Reviews

Top 3 historical cdrama

I loved it. The acting was great and so was their chemistry. I loved the ost as well. The little snippet of their wedding left a smile on my face during the whole thing. I wish they got into a relationship sooner, but he was so insecure and there was a lack of communication from both of them. I understand why she was hesitant in the beginning, she knew another version of him, so of course she was scared. They had very cute moments in the last I believe 10 episodes, very small and short ones but got me giggling. I wish You Fangi didn’t die and wished we saw more of her and her husband’s married life. In the end him basically bullying his son was so funny, he’s so insecure over Zhang Ze (was only funny to see on the show, if it happened in reality that would’ve been disappointing).

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Preview looked greater but all was just hype

I was really excited due to all the reaction it got. The trailers also seem great.

Pro: the fl was so pretty as a man. There were fun moments as she was being like mulan. I enjoyed the moments of her at that time. I liked how the ml found out her gender fast. Ml eye contact was good. Choreography was nice I can say that.

Con: her acting as a dude in the first half was so bad, she was so girly and flirty. I’ve seen good Korean dramas where they pretend to be male and I’m myself convinced. This was not convincing. the voice or acting was not good for pretending to be a male. The love scenes came later and wasn’t that intense. I wanted more love and more compelling love. Ml was not very expressive nor that romantic. The Sl story was just everywhere. Story just was messy. Villain was just okay but sided with someone incompetent. There was no real twist. There were some parts I just had to skip.

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Somehow the food outshines everything else

When I first started this drama, the first two episodes were so fun and engaging that I was really looking forward to the next ones. Episodes 3 and 4 didn’t disappoint either, they were just as entertaining as the first two, and the story was getting even more interesting.

But then I watched episode 5. About halfway through, I found myself thinking, “Is this drama really just going to be about a cook feeding the king delicious food all the time, no matter what happens?” I get that the main premise is centered on cooking and food, but it feels like all the mouth-watering dishes are overshadowing everything else.

Sure, the relationship between the leads is slowly progressing, but their characters still lack development and depth. Maybe as the episodes go on, they’ll work it out and I hope so. Still, the characters are fun to watch, especially Yeon Ji Yeong as the cook. She’s smart, witty, and strong, and I can’t wait to see how she continues to survive in the Joseon era. As for King Yi Heon, he’s just… okay, I guess. For now, all he does is eat, get angry, frown, and investigate the mystery behind his mother’s disposal (with zero progress so far). I’m not sure how to feel about his chemistry with Yeon Ji Young but it’s surely not bad, but to me, they come across more like siblings than a romantic couple.

The side characters, though, really add color to the story. From the maids and cooks to the cunning figures like Consort Kang and the Grand Prince, each of them brings something that makes the drama more interesting.

Overall, I hope the storytelling will continue to improve, as this drama remains one of the most enjoyable shows I’m currently watching.

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Fun, but Coffee Prince Was Braver Than This

(copied from my Viki Account)

[addition at the bottom for finale postmortem]

Giving this a nine, though it's not finished, for overall excellent storytelling and humor.

That being said, I think it's worthwhile to just talk about the core theme of this series and the ambivalence I have toward it. Without it being finished, I can't say what the intention is or how well it was executed. What I can say, is that this series, whether intentional or not, elucidates the whole issue of compulsory heterosexuality. This issue is, what I think, is the main reason why this series seems to be drawing some controversial opinions.

If you don't know what compulsory heterosexuality that means, it's basically a queer theory argument that describes how men and women are socially and politically ingrained to perform heterosexuality; it defines the relationships between men and women, how we can interact with each other, and what is considered socially acceptable behavior between same gender people in order to de-legitamize and stigmatize relationships that are not heteronormative (i.e. queer relationships).

This idea runs at the center of the premise. If you can understand that, you can understand that every conflict between the characters stems from this. It's not just a question of Yoonjae accepting JiEun No Matter What (that's a little simplistic); it's asking YoonJae's character, and all of us really, to confront the very idea of what is normative gender and sexuality.

Both of their characters are initially presented to us as the ideal heterosexual couple; one that is rooted in stereotypical ideas of masculinity and femininity as being oppositional; e.g. she is small and cute, he is tall, handsome, and strong. Their relationship is getting increasingly physically affectionate, following a prescribed, heteronormative path of development (meet-cute, dating, meeting family, kissing, going on a trip, etc.) It's the very idea of what is considered Normal.

But when confronted with this sudden gender change, "JiHun" is stronger, more handsome, and taller than Yoonjae. This is a gender identity crisis for them both. Because now, his girlfriend is everything he is and MORE. Add to that is the sexuality crisis; because of compulsory heterosexuality, they can no longer be physically affectionate—that is presented as a given and almost never challenged so far. For a character that has defined himself, his masculinity, and his sexuality within a heteronormative picture of his relationship to JiEun, this gender change is like a spear shattering that 2-d view.

Suddenly, their lives and personalities are more fleshed out. Yoonjae learns things about JiEun he never knew. They hang out as friends, discovering new aspects of each other. But there's always this tension at the center: when will JiEun turn back into a woman, so they can get back on their Normal progression? And, if Yoonjae can't love "JiHun" the same way, does that mean their love is only contingent on being "heterosexual"?

This is exactly where the ambivalence lies. If JiEun remains a woman at the end, is that not just dismissing this entire crisis and the uncomfortable questions it raised? Is that sweeping the issue under the rug and just reinforcing the compulsory heterosexuality?

But then, would the series *allow* JiEun to remain a man? In which case there are only two outcomes: they break up because Yoonjae is Straight, or they stay together because YoonJae decides he can love "JiHun" the same way. But what about the gender dysphoria and the real questions about gender identity THAT raises?

These are the main questions I am left with at this juncture. I have a feeling I am going to be disappointed about something despite the overall great level of storytelling this series has had so I'll probably leave this at a 9 for not giving me a lot of confidence after 10 episodes.

Bracing myself for the finale!

[finale postmortem]

After the ending, I can add a more conclusive evaluation. Though the series brings up all the issues I've written about above, it does not necessarily answer or incorporate those issues textually. In other words, the gender/sexuality crisis we are all, inevitably, thinking about gets side-stepped entirely.

Instead, the series concludes with a happy ending by deciding that their main issue was just that they weren't communicating well enough with each other, ultimately over-generalizing the central conflict to become entirely non-political. (I'm using the term political in the context of social politics, not specific state politics.) And, in retrospect, I think it was always going to side-step the issue. The narrative's focus on the other side couples and Minju were its way of avoiding the real questions by creating extraneous plot for the characters to work through instead.

So, yeah. I pretty much stand by my original remarks.

TL;DR: Fun, but Coffee Prince was braver than this.

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Amachan is the 9th Asadoras that I have watched and it was one of the best ones. I was surprised by how much I ended up loving it, especially since I had dropped it in the past. I’m really glad I gave it another chance because I enjoyed it so much this time around. Unlike the previous Asadoras I’ve seen, this one has a stronger focus on comedy, which I found very refreshing, and the modern setting made it even more enjoyable.

The story is well-written and engaging, showing how people’s dreams and perspectives can change over time. Aki’s journey reflects this beautifully—she starts out aspiring to be an ama diver, then dreams of becoming a deep-sea diver, later shifts her focus to becoming an idol, and finally finds purpose in wanting to save her community. I really admired how determined and passionate she was in pursuing her goals. I also loved the cast of characters—each one was memorable, and the actors and actresses brought them to life wonderfully. Overall, Amachan is an excellent Asadora and definitely a must-watch.

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Fluff is not what to expect from a revenge drama, but the first half of the series can easily drained you by watching the characters slowly revealing their true characters and turning against the female lead (Minori). This makes it clear that some people are disgusting in nature to the point beyond help, and as Minori pointed out to Riko in the rooftop scene, people who hurt their closest ones don't deserve sympathy. The pain from deception and betrayal leaves a long scar that prob takes many years to heal. I was satisfied with Minori's father siding with her and helping her to fulfill her revenge, then I was dissapointed in the second half of Minori's redemption arc because she basically got swayed by a younger man who used to be her student and also her ploy for revenge. For a second, I thought I was watching chuukagusei nikki because it felt like a sudden change of narrative. Although it is entertaining to watch, the romance between them felt forced and didn't make any sense. I was happy with Minori's choice of her being independent and her belief that a woman doesn’t need a man to be happy. The story should have ended there, with Riko starting a new life with her daughter, Yudai and his mom getting their consequences, and Wataru starting his career, it would have been a satisfying conclusion.

Rating: 8/10. Watch if you like dark psychological drama around marriage and affairs.

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Harsh realty of gay men lives

Rewatched this a few times and always see what new comments there are. It’s not a Bl. It’s a reality based gay short. Gay life is different in every country but a common culture theme remains. What the fiancé senses is accurate. Millions of gay men marry to hide and do what is “right” for family and society. We all know this. It’s a terribly tragic and sad thing for all involved. I had so much hope we were entering better times but with the USA rolling back protections I fear so will other countries.
So it’s a gay film based on reality. It’s accurate and wonderfully acted. IMO a must see.
Hopefully everyone watching will have a better understanding of their trauma and difficult life all because others feel they should live and love in a way that is acceptable by someone else’s standard.
🤲

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The ending a bit disappointing as it focused heavily on setting up the 2nd season.

Worth watching overall, but ultimately I was quite let down by the conclusion. It felt rather disappointing because it concentrated excessively on constructing a possible second season instead of delivering genuine closure. A television series should reward its audience with a fully developed, satisfying narrative within the current season. Depending too much on uncertain future seasons undermines the existing effort and feels inconsiderate toward loyal viewers who invested their valuable time, trust, and emotions. Please provide a proper conclusion, not merely a vague setup.

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Love story based on manga. Nishina who seems sweet on the outside has a weird hobby of stalking and taking pictures of Fujiko in secret. Obviously shocked and terrified, Fujiko avoided any him after discovering the truth. In later episodes, Nishina confesses the reason why he began stalking her thinking that he's not doing anything wrong as he was never "being violent" towards her. After some distance, Fujiko recognized that his actions had good intentions and finally had the courage to confront him so that she can move forward with her life. The story ends with Nishina trying to start fresh with Fujiko on more honest and respectful terms.

Great acting, the lead actors were pleasing to watch and as a Yabuki Nako fan, I'm happy to see her in the drama.

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A Somber Legal Drama That is Worth Exploring!

Legal dramas are becoming a more frequent trend in Korean industry, but there are very few that are actually worth exploring!

An ensemble casting doesn’t always mean that the show will be good. It entails a diligent storytelling and a strong backdrop with intriguing characters. JTBC’s Saturday- Sunday offering “Beyond the Bar” encompasses all three with a dash of romance. The cases were handled professionally which is obviously the order in Korean law firms. The show basically revolves around rookie lawyer, Kang Hyo Min as she joins the popular law firm, Yullim and meets her immediate superior, Yun Seok Hun who is a stoic & disciplined man. While most shy away from joining his department because of his strict demeanor, Hyo Min willingly takes up the job because she wants to learn from him. And she does, because in due course of time, they became proficient partners both in personal & professional life. The show skims over the romance to focus more on the legal cases they handle. I guess that’s a relief because romance in a legal drama doesn’t make much sense!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/09/09/beyond-the-bar-series-review/#more-2041

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Comfrontational flawed leads daring to love again — the misunderstanding trope strikes once more

Business as Usual (adapted from Moscareto’s web novel of the same name, also known as Eul’s Love) tells the story of Kim Min Jun (Chae Jong Hyeok) and Chae Jin Hwan (Seong Seung Ha), first lovers who fall apart, only to meet again eight years later at the same publishing company.

Back then, Min Jun’s insecurities and a spiral of jealous misinterpretations turned their romance toxic. Now older but not necessarily wiser, he faces the man who broke his heart or maybe the man he never stopped loving. Jin Hwan, meanwhile, is determined to prove their story isn’t over.

Director Min Chae Yeon (Happy Merry Ending) and writer Kang Rim cleverly weave past and present, showing how time changes people and how it doesn’t. The series doesn’t glamorize love, it digs into self-doubt, miscommunication, and fear of abandonment. But it also offers second chances and the possibility of healing.

On the surface, Jin Hwan seems overconfident, even manic in the way he hides his bitterness and sadness. Min Jun, quiet and withdrawn, appears to be the more vulnerable one. Yet, like in the original novel, the series flips this expectation.

Behind the façade, Jin Hwan is the sensitive one, deeply in love but trapped in a constant fear of rejection. Min Jun, meanwhile, is consumed by paranoia, convinced that someone as “pathetic and unlikeable” as himself could never truly be wanted by someone as magnetic as Jin Hwan.

This dynamic pushes Jin Hwan into the role of the submissive, always clinging, always chasing, doing whatever he can to preserve even the faintest hope of being “more than friends.” It’s this love reversal that forms the emotional core of their story.

Carried by the chemistry of its leads, Business as Usual embraces the “misunderstanding trope” once again, but with enough raw honesty and emotional weight to make it feel fresh. At heart, it’s about two flawed people daring to confront the past and maybe, just maybe, love again.

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Masterpiece of a drama

This is one of those rare dramas that unexpectedly draws you in and then make you obsess over the characters' happiness. There is a purity to the story that the main leads bring to the characters. Episode 1 immediately hooks you in with the cold open of Manami's diving scene. Then you're not sure if you like Kaoru, even though you're pretty sure he's the male lead. But by the end of the episode, you're firmly starting to root for the connection between Manami and Taiga. The obsession with the drama just takes off from there.

The OST is gorgeous, and the cinematography is unique. The drama is marketed as a story of "pure love," so you won't find a lot of steamy scenes despite the red light district setting. If you like tug-at-your-heartstrings feels and watching 2 characters from opposite sides of town fall in love in spite of the odds, do yourself a favor and start this series. Enjoy the ride and don't even try to guess how the story will go-- most likely it won't be what you expect, in a good way. I've also never seen so much growth and strength in characters before, even supporting ones.

As we are waiting for the last episode or 2, I know many of us are rewatching the released episodes over and over, because it's just that good. 15-year age be damned, it sounds alarming, but the characters of Kaoru/Taiga and Manami simply fit and match each other. So much so that they have most everyone from viewers to supporting characters rooting for them.

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